Free Dark Space by Stephen A. Fender

stupid decision … pure, unadulterated pilot error.
If I’d had a commander like yourself guiding me, I likely wouldn’t have made
such a critical error in judgment in a blind panic.” Ramos then turned back to
the wide view port. “Having said that, whatever you choose to do about Nova is
entirely up to you, and I want you to know that you’ll have my full support.”
       Shawn was taken aback by
the statement, and was unable to hide his surprise. “How do you know about
that?”
       Ramos snickered. “You don’t
get to be a fleet captain without knowing what’s going on at all times with all
your people. Besides, I was in CIC during the battle. I don’t know the
particulars of what happened out there today, and I’m not asking for them right
now. Just know that, as my equal, you should be aware of what’s on in my mind …
just as I should be about yourself. We’re going to need that kind of relationship
if we want these people to survive to go back home to their loved ones.” The
doors to the bridge opened, drawing their attention. It was Melissa, and she
seemed to have something on her mind as she walked toward them. “Or the ones on
board the ship,” Ramos muttered sideways.
       “What?” Shawn asked
defensively, but was silenced when Ramos held out a hand to Melissa.
       “Agent Graves, I don’t
believe we’ve had the formal pleasure.”
       “Captain Ramos,” she said,
taking his hand and nodding smartly. The two men looked as if they had just
been caught with their hands in the same proverbial cookie jar. “I hope I’m not
interrupting anything.” Her tone was inquisitive. 
       “Not at all,” Ramos beamed.
“The commander and I were just discussing the finer points of command in
sometimes difficult situations.”
       Melissa’s eye shifted to
Shawn, who simply bobbed his head deftly. The fact that the commander’s eyes
darted quickly to Ramos’s was also not lost on her. “Respectfully, would you
mind if I borrowed the commander for a short time?” she asked.
       Ramos bowed his head
slightly. “By all means, Agent Graves.” Ramos then turned to Shawn, concealing
his face from Melissa, and smiled at Shawn softly. Just as quickly, the expression
faded as Ramos straightened his posture. “Carry on smartly , Commander
Kestrel.”
       Shawn snapped a salute,
which was returned briskly. “Aye, sir.”

 
    “When you’re light-years
away from a port in the storm, you have to be able to place the ultimate trust
in your people. It’s the glue of life. Sometimes—out here in the void—it’s all
that brings your ship back home. However, with that trust comes great power,
and when that power is abused, the culprit must be held accountable … or
there’s no point to it all, and we might as well have given up Beta Sector to
the Meltranians, Kafarans, or anyone else long ago.”
     
    -Admiral
William Graves, Unified Sector Command (Ret.)
     
Chapter 4
     
       Once outside the bridge,
Melissa wordlessly moved toward the nearest elevator. As Shawn stepped in
behind her, she immediately ordered the doors shut and secured.
       “I thought you were going
to follow Jerry,” he said.
       “I did. I mean, I was.”
       He folded his arms across
his gray uniform. “What do mean, you were?”
       She looked concerned, about
as concerned as he’d ever seen her. “I followed him to the wardroom, where he
got a bite to eat. Afterward, he made his way to his cabin.”
       “Sounds pretty innocent,”
he said with a shrug.
       “Right, but not where he
went next. Care to offer a guess?”
       “I hear the rose bushes are
coming into bloom in the arboretum.”
       At that she cocked an
eyebrow. “And just why would you be interested in that?”
       Shawn offered a shocked
expression. “What? Can’t a guy take interest in flowers?”
       She shook her head
unconvincingly. “Cheeky answer, but no, that’s not where he went.”
       “Then where?